Pompon handbags and a method of making thereof

ABSTRACT

A handbag comprising a plurality of pompon strips may be used to cheer for a competitive sports entity and to contribute to the atmosphere of fun and festivity surrounding a sporting event. The handbag comprises a plurality of sewing lines to which are affixed rows of pompon strips. The pompon strips are made of flexible material such as plastic, paper and cloth and are generally glittering and colorful and may include a fluorescent or phosphorescent dye material to provide an after-glow and a glow-in-the-dark effect. The method of making the handbag comprises marking the sewing lines on a handbag body material, producing front and back panels from the body material, and affixing rows of pompon strips along the sewing lines.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to handbags and a method of making thereof and in particular to handbags to which are affixed a plurality of pompon strips.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In general, pompons are handheld devices used for cheering at or for competing entities in such as professional, collegial and high school sporting events, as well as numerous team spirit building endeavors of various companies and associations. Pompons are bundles of flexible strands, streamers and/or strips (hereinafter “strips”) made from various materials, such as vinyl, cellophane, and other plastic materials, as well as textile and paper. Pompon users shake or move the stick that holds a bundle of pompon strips to cheer for their teams and also to generate an atmosphere of fun and festivity. To contribute to an atmosphere of fun and festivity, pompon strips are in general colorful, glittering, glossy, and/or light reflective, and may also be dyed or injected with luminescence causing materials such as fluorescent or phosphorescent dies, pigments, elements and materials. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,079,045 discloses pompon strips formed of transparent plastic, preferably poly-ethylene terephthalate (PET), containing fluorescent dies such that the pompon strips provide a glowing effect in the presence of light.

There are numerous novelty items that use pompon strips to enhance users' enjoyment thereof and to facilitate an atmosphere of fun and festivity and attract public attention. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,575,808 discloses a puppet for cheering that has pompon strips attached to its controllable limbs; U.S. Pat. No. 5,234,725 discloses a wrist structure having pompon strips; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,369,215 discloses an advertisement device having pompon strips.

There continues to be a need for new, useful items for facilitating and contributing to an atmosphere of fun and festivity. The present invention further fulfills this need.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention provides handbags comprising a plurality of pompon strips and a method of making such handbags. A handbag according to the present invention comprises a front and a back panels to which are attached, connected, glued, or affixed (hereinafter “affixed”) a plurality of pompon strips. Thus, the handbags may be used to cheer at or for competing entities in team sports and to contribute generally to the atmosphere of fun and festivity.

In a first preferred embodiment, a handbag comprises a front and a back panels, each panel comprising a plurality of pompon strips. The bottom edge and two side edges of the front panel are sewed, affixed, attached or connected (hereinafter “connected”) to the bottom and two side edges of the back panel, respectively. An adaptively open-able and closable opening device interconnects the top edges of the front and back panels. A shoulder strap having two ends are attached to the handbag by affixing the ends of the strap near the opposite, longitudinal ends of the opening device.

In a second preferred embodiment, a handbag comprises a front and a back panels, each panel comprising a plurality of pompon strips. The second embodiment further includes a first and a second side panels and a bottom panel. The first side panel is used to interconnect the first side edges of the front and back panels; the second side panel is used to interconnect the second side edges of the front and back panels; and the bottom panel is used to interconnect the bottom edges the front and back panels, as well as the bottom edges of the two side panels. This embodiment also includes an outer top panel and an inner top panel, which panels are designed so that they are adaptively open-able and closable. The handbag also includes a strap having two loops, each of the loops being connected to one of the two side panels.

In a third preferred embodiment, a handbag comprises a front and a back panels, each panel comprising a plurality of pompon strips. In this embodiment, the top edge of the front panel is folded over and sewn along a line on the front panel below the top edge so as to form a front panel channel, which runs the width of the front panel. The front panel further defines a front panel hole below the front panel channel and about centrally located from the side edges of the front panel. Similarly, the top edge of the back panel is folded over and sewn along a line on the back panel below the top edge so as to form a back panel channel, which runs the width of the back panel. The back panel defines a back panel hole below the back panel channel and about centrally located from the side edges of the back panel. A stiff rod is preferably inserted into the channels to provide to the user a rigid handle structure for the handbag. In this embodiment, the handbag preferably also comprises a first and a second side panels and a bottom panel.

In the preferred method of making handbags according to the present invention, a plurality of affixation lines are marked on a basic handbag material, such as leather, plastic, textile and paper. Thereafter, desired shapes for the front and back panels are cut from the basic handbag material, and on or along (hereinafter “along”) each of the affixation lines is sewn, connected, glued or hot-melted (hereinafter “affixed”) a plurality of pompon strips, which are held together or interconnected by a common affixation band, thereby forming a row of pompon strips that can be affix to the panels using the common affixation band. For example, a row of pompon strips can be affixed to a panel by sewing the affixation band along the affixation line, and thereby resulting in each pompon strip having one end affixed to the panel and the rest of it being unattached and able to float or move according to the movement of the handbag.

The pompon strips are made from flexible materials, including vinyl, cellophane and other plastic materials, as well as textile and paper. The pompon strips may be colorful, glossy, glittering, and light reflective and may also include luminescent causing materials such as fluorescent and phosphorescent dies, pigments, elements, and materials.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2A illustrates the front panel 120 of the body unit 110 shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 2B illustrates the back panel 122 of the body unit 110 shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3B is another perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3A.

FIG. 4A illustrates the front panel 320 of the body unit 310 in shown FIG. 3.

FIG. 4B illustrates the back panel 322 of the body unit 310 in shown FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6A illustrates the front panel 520 of the body unit 510 shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 6B illustrates the front panel 522 of the body unit 510 shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7A illustrates a basic handbag material having a plurality of affixation lines.

FIG. 7B illustrates a row of pompon strips having a common affixation band.

FIG. 7C illustrates two rows of pompon strips having a common affixation band.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, handbag 100 according to the present invention comprises a body unit 110, an adaptively open-able and closable opening device 112, an adjustable shoulder strap 114, shoulder strap attachment points 118 a and 118 b, and a plurality of pompon strips 130, each strip having one end affixed to the body unit 110 and the other end being unattached end generally pointing toward the bottom of the handbag.

Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, the front panel 126 has a top edge 120 a, a bottom edge 120 b, and a first and a second side edges, 120 c and 120 d. Similarly, the back panel 122 has a top edge 122 a, a bottom edge 122 b, and a first and a second side edges, 122 c and 122 d. A plurality of pompon strips, collectively referred to as 130, are affixed to the front and back panels. In particular, one end of each pompon strip is attached to its corresponding panel and the rest of the pompon strip is unattached to the panel and pointing generally toward the bottom edges of the front and back panels 120 and 122. The unattached ends of the pompon strips are individually referred to as 130 a, 130 b, through 130 n in FIG. 1. Accordingly, the pompon strips are generally free to move as handbag 100 moves, and thus handbag 100 may function as a cheering device and a novelty handbag contributing to an atmosphere of fun and festivity.

In handbag 100, the bottom edge and the first and second side edges of the front panel 120 are connected to the corresponding bottom, first and second side edges of the back panel 122. For example, the corresponding edges are sewn together while the pompon strips are bunched together and pushed inside of the edges so that the pompon strips do not get sewn or protrude beyond the resulting hem lines. The adaptively open-able or closable opening device 112 interconnects the top edges, 120 a and 122 a, of the front and back panels and may comprise a zipper as shown in FIG. 1, as well as magnetic buttons well known in the art. The shoulder strap 114 comprises two straps 114 a and 114 b, each having an end affixed to a strap attachment point, 118 a or 118 b. As shown in FIG. 1, strap attachment points 118 a and 118 b are located near the opposite, longitudinal ends of the opening device 112. As well known in the art, the shoulder strap 114 may be adjustable and can be made to be removable. The body unit 110 and shoulder strap 114 may be made from various materials, such as leather, plastic, textile, and paper (also referred to as “basic handbag materials”).

The pompon strips 130 are made of flexible materials, including and not limited to, vinyl, cellophane, and other plastic materials, as well as textile and paper materials. To contribute to an atmosphere of fun and festivity, pompon strips 130 are in general made from colorful, glossy, glittering and/or light reflecting materials. In addition, they may include fluorescent, phosphorescent or dayglow dies, pigments, elements, or materials so that the pompon strips 130 may have an after-glow or luminescent effects, including a glow-in-the-dark property. The width of each pompon strip ranges about three-eighth (⅜) to one-half (½) of an inch. The unattached ends of the pompon strips 130 are about three (3) or more inches from the bottom edges of the front and back panels 120 and 122.

Referring to FIGS. 3A, 3B, 4A and 4B, handbag 300 according to the present invention comprises a body unit 310, which in turn comprises a front and a back panels, 320 and 322, a first and a second side panels 370 a and 370 b, and a bottom panel 360, as well as a plurality of pompon strips 330 affixed to the body unit 310. Each of the pompon strips 330 has one end affixed to the front or back panels, 320 and 322, and the rest of the pompon strip is unattached to the panels. Accordingly, the pompon strips move generally in accordance with the movement of the handbag 300.

As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the first side panel 370 a interconnects the first side edges, 320 c and 322 c, of the front and back panels; the second side panel 370 b interconnects the second side edges, 320 d and 322 d, of the front and back panels. The bottom panel 360 interconnects the bottom edges, 320 b and 322 b, of the front and back panels and the bottom edges of the side panels 370 a and 370 b.

As shown in FIGS. 3A through 4B, the front panel 320 includes a top part which is folded along a front panel folding line 320 a (FIG. 4A) so as to form an inner top panel 380. Similarly, the back panel 322 includes a top part which is folded along a back panel folding line 322 b (FIG. 4B) so as to form an outer top panel 350. The outer top panel 350 is adaptively attachable or detachable from the inner top panel 380 by using a plurality of magnetic devices 312 a, 312 b, 312 c, and 312 d. In addition, a zipper 312 e adaptively interconnects the outer and inner top panels, 350 and 380. Handbag 300 also includes a strap 314 having two end loops, loop 315 a being attached to the first side panel 370 a and loop 315 b being attached to the second side panel 370 b.

The pompon strips 330 are made of flexible materials, such as plastics, textile and paper, and are preferably made colorful, glossy, glittering and/or light reflective. The pompon strips 330 may also include luminescent causing materials, such as fluorescent or phosphorescent dies, pigments, elements or materials so that the pompon strips may have after-glow or glow-in-the-dark properties. The unattached ends of the pompon strips 330 are about three (3) or more inches from the bottom panel 360. Additional pompon strips may also be attached to the side panels 370 a and 370 b.

Referring to FIGS. 5, 6A, and 6B, handbag 500 comprises a body unit 510, which in turn comprises a front and a back panels 520 and 522, two side panels interconnecting the side edges of the front and back panels (one of which side panels is referred to as 570 a in FIG. 5), and a bottom panel 580 interconnecting the bottom edges of the front, back, and two side panels. Handbag 500 further comprises an adaptively open-able and closable opening device 512 and a plurality of pompon strips 530,

The front panel 520 has a top and a bottom edges and a first and a second side edges, referred to as 520 a, 520 b, 520 c and 520 d, respectively, in FIG. 6A. The back panel 522 has a top and a bottom edges and a first and a second side edges, referred to as 522 a, 522 b, 522 c and 522 d, respectively, in FIG. 6B. The top edge 520 a of the front panel 520 is folded over and sewn along a line on the front panel below the top edge 520 a so as to create a front panel channel 514 a into which a relative thin, stiff rod 516 a may be inserted. In addition, the front panel 520 defines a front panel hole, 550 a, below the front panel channel 514 a and about centrally located from the side edges 520 c and 520 d. Similarly, the top edge 522 a of the back panel 522 is folded over and sewn along a line on the back panel below the top edge 522 a so as create a back panel channel 514 b into which a relative thin, stiff rod 516 b may be inserted. Furthermore, the back panel 522 defines a back panel hole, 550 b, below the back panel channel 514 b and about centrally located from the side edges 522 c and 522 d. The stiff rods 516 a and 516 b and the holes 550 a and 550 b provide a handle structure for the users of handbag 500. Rods 516 a and 516 b may be made of any material that is light and rigid, such as wood, plastic, paper, and metal.

The pompon strips 530 are attached to the front or back panels 520 and 522. Each pompon strip has one end affixed to its corresponding panel, and the rest of it is unattached, thereby allowing it to move generally in accordance with the movement of handbag 500. The pompon strips 530 may be made from any flexible material, such as plastic, textile and paper, and are preferably made colorful, glossy, glittering, and/or light reflecting. The pompon strips may also include luminescence causing material, such as fluorescent or phosphorescent dies, pigments, elements or materials. The unattached ends of the pompon strips 530 are about three (3) inches from the bottom panel 580.

Referring to FIGS. 7A, 7B and 7C, an exemplary step in the making of a pompon handbag according to the present invention is described. A desirably shaped panel 720 is cut or produced from a basic handbag body material such as leather, plastic, and textile. A plurality of affixation lines (individually referred to as 740 a through 740 n, and collectively referred to as 740 in FIG. 7A) is marked on panel 720. The affixation lines 740 may be marked before or after the panels are cut from the basic handbag material. The side of panel 720 on which the affixation lines 740 are marked is the side that will form the outer surface of the resulting handbag.

FIG. 7B shows a sheet of pompon material 750 comprising a plurality of pompon strips 730. In particular, one end of each pompon strip is connected to or is an integral part of the affixation band 752, which is located near a top edge 750 a of the pompon material 750. The plurality of pompon strips 730 is formed by slitting or cutting the pompon material 750 from the bottom edge 750 b to the lower edge of the affixation band 752. Accordingly, a row of pompon strips held together or interconnected to a common affixation band is produced. Subsequently, a row of pompon strips is affixed along each of the affixation lines 740 using its affixation band. Since only the affixation band is used to affix the pompon strips 730 to panel 720, except for the end of the pompon strips forming the affixation band and being attached to the panel 720, the rest of each of the pompon strips is unattached.

FIG. 7C illustrates another sheet of pompon material 760. Two rows of pompon strips, 763 a and 763 b, are joined to a single common affixation band 762. In this case the pompon strips 763 a and 763 b are made by slitting or cutting the pompon material 760 from the edges 764 a and 763 b, respectively, to the outer edges of the affixation band 762. The pompon strips, 763 a and 763 b, are then affixed along two affixation lines, for example, 740 a and 740 b, using the affixation band 762. After affixing the two rows of pompon strips onto panel 720, the pompon strips comprising the top row, that is the pompon strips affixed along line 740 a are folded over so that the unattached pompon strip ends, 764 a and 764 b point generally toward the bottom edge 720 b of panel 720.

In a preferred embodiment, the affixation band 752 is sewn along each of the affixation lines 740. However, depending on the material used, the affixation band may be glued or hot melted onto to corresponding affixation line. After panels affixed with a plurality of pompon strips are prepared, appropriate panels are put together to make a handbag, as well known in the art.

As an example, to make handbag 100 shown in FIG. 1, the front and back panels 120 and 122 are prepared according to the method described in connection with FIGS. 7A through C. Thereafter, an adaptively open-able and closable device 112 becomes attached to or interconnects the top edges of the panels 120 and 122. Subsequently, the corresponding bottom edge and the first and second side edges of the panels 120 and 122 are sewn together form the body unit 110. While the bottom and side edges are being sewn, the pompon strips 130, which are already affixed to the panels 120 and 122, are bunched together and placed so that they do not get sewn or protrude beyond the resulting hem lines. As well known in the art, an appropriate lining becomes attached to the inside of the body unit 110 to hide the sewing marks created while forming the body unit 110.

Numerous modifications to and alternative embodiments of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the foregoing description. Accordingly, this description is to be construed as illustrative only and is for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art the best mode of carrying out the invention. Details of the embodiment may be varied without departing from the spirit of the invention, and the exclusive use of all modifications which come within the scope of the appended claims is reserved. 

1. A handbag, comprising: a body unit comprising a front and a back panels, each of said panels having a top, a bottom, a first and a second side edges, the bottom edge and the first and second side edges of the front panel being interconnected to the bottom edge and the first and second side edges of the back panel, respectively; a plurality of pompom strips being affixed to the front and back panels along a plurality of affixation lines, each of said pompon strips having an unattached end pointing generally toward the bottom edges of the front and back panels; an adaptively open-able and closable opening device interconnecting the top edges of the front and back panels; and a strap having two ends, each end being attached to the body unit near the opposite, longitudinal ends of the opening device.
 2. The handbag according to claim 1, wherein the pompon strips are made of flexible plastic and the unattached ends of the pompon strips are at least four inches from the bottom edges of the front and back panels.
 3. The handbag according to claim 1, wherein the pompon strips affixed on each affixation line have a common affixation band that is used to affix the pompon strips on the corresponding affixation line.
 4. The handbag according to claim 1, wherein the pompon strips comprise a luminescent causing material and the unattached ends of the pompon strips are at least four inches from the bottom edges of the front and back panels.
 5. A handbag, comprising: a front and a back panels, each of said front and back panels having a top, a bottom and two side edges; two side panels, one side panel connecting one side edge of the front panel and one side edge of the back panel, and the other side panel connecting the remaining side edges of the front and back panels; a bottom panel connecting the bottom edges of the front and back panels and the bottom edges of the two side panels; and an adaptively open-able and closable opening device interconnecting the top edges of the front and back panels; and a plurality of pompom strips affixed to the front and back panels, said plurality of pompon strips comprising at least a row of pompon strips having a common affixation band, said affixation band being used to attach the row of pompon strips to the corresponding panel, and each of said pompon strip having an unattached end that points generally toward the bottom panel.
 6. The handbag according to claim 5, wherein the pompon strips are made of flexible plastic and the unattached ends of the pompon strips are at least three inches from the bottom panel.
 7. The handbag according to claim 5, wherein the pompon strips comprise a luminescent causing material and the unattached ends of the pompon strips are at least three inches from the bottom panel.
 8. The handbag according to claim 5, wherein the adaptively open-able and closable opening device comprises an inner top panel, which is formed by folding a top part of the front panel along a front panel folding line, and an outer top panel which is formed by folding a top part of the back panel along a back panel folding line.
 9. The handbag according to claim 5, wherein each of the front and back panels comprises a channel and defines a hole below the channel; and wherein the adaptively open-able and closable opening device interconnects the front and back panels below the holes defined by the front and back panels.
 10. A method of making a pompon handbag, comprising the steps of: marking a plurality of affixation lines on a handbag body material; making a front and a back panels from the handbag body material, each said panel having a top and a bottom edges, and a first and a second side edges; affixing a row of pompon strips along each of the affixation lines marked on the front and back panels, each of said pompon strips having an unattached end; connecting the top edges of the front and back panels to an adaptively open-able and closable opening; and connecting the bottom edge and the first and second side edges of the front panel to the bottom edge and the first and second side edges of the back panel, respectively.
 11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the row of pompon strips comprises an affixation band which holds the pompon strips as a sheet of interconnected pompon strips, and wherein the row of pompon strips are affixed to the handbag body material by sewing the affixation band along the corresponding affixation line.
 12. The method according to claim 13, the pompon strips are made of flexible plastic material.
 13. The method according to claim 13, the pompon strips are made of flexible cloth.
 14. A handbag, comprising: a front and a back panels, each of said panels having a top edge, a bottom edge, a first and a second side edges, the bottom edge and the first and second side edges of the front panel being interconnected to the corresponding bottom, first side, and second side edges of the back panel; an adaptively open-able and closable opening device interconnecting the top edges of the front and back panels; and a plurality of pompom strips affixed to the front and back panels, each of said pompon strip having an unattached end, which points generally toward the bottom edges of the front and back panels.
 15. The handbag according to claim 14, wherein the pompon strips are made of flexible plastic having a fluorescent dye.
 16. The handbag according to claim 14, wherein the pompon strips are made of flexible material having a glow-in-the-dark property. 